Committee member Sinicki opposes the bill, which she
called “purely a power grab” on behalf of Milwaukee County Executive Chris
Abele. She said that she hoped Republicans, who are in the majority in the
Legislature, would realize that the bill was an attack on local control and
therefore vote against it.

Assembly Bill 85/Senate Bill 95—largely the work of
state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Allis), state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River
Hills) and the Abele-aligned Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC)—would reduce the
pay of a Milwaukee County supervisor to about $24,000 annually. That provision
would be put to county voters in a binding referendum on April 1, 2014.

“The portion of the bill that directly affects
constituents the most is the question of representation, that is on the
ballot,” stated an email from Josh Hoisington, an aide to Rep. Sanfelippo.

But the vast majority of AB 85/SB 95’s components
would go into effect immediately—without the consent of Milwaukee County
voters—if or when the Republican-dominated state Legislature passes the bill
and Gov. Scott Walker signs it.

Therefore, state legislators could radically
diminish the Milwaukee County board’s authority over contracts, land sales and
county operations long before Milwaukee County voters are allowed to vote on
the referendum in 2014 to reduce supervisors’ pay.

Weakening the county board is eliminating needed
oversight to prevent corruption from developing in the county executive’s
office.

“This [bill] would make the Milwaukee County
executive the most powerful county executive in the state of Wisconsin,” said
Milwaukee County Board Chair Marina Dimitrijevic. “With a very weakened legislative
branch.”

County Government Would Be Concentrated in
Executive’s Office

The non-referendum “power grab” provisions would
give the Milwaukee County executive sweeping powers over local government.

These Legislature-enacted provisions would weaken
the Milwaukee County board in matters ranging from the oversight of land sales
and contracts, to the administration of child support enforcement, work centers
and fish hatcheries.

The Milwaukee County executive-enhancing provisions
include:

Cutting the Milwaukee
County board’s overall budget to 0.4% of the county property tax levy, a
roughly 80% decrease that would go into effect Jan. 1, 2014. No similar
budget-saving changes would be made to the county executive’s staff. The board
would also be prohibited from cutting the executive office’s budget or staff.

Reducing a Milwaukee County
supervisor’s four-year term to two years, while the county executive’s term
would remain at four years.

Allowing the Milwaukee
County executive to convene a board meeting without offering a reason, a power
not granted even to the governor.

Giving the Milwaukee County
executive legislative powers by allowing him or her to introduce ordinances and
resolutions.

Prohibiting Milwaukee
County supervisors from reviewing contracts under $100,000, a weakening of the
current $50,000 standard. The board’s finance committee could vote on contracts
between $100,000 and $300,000 but those contracts also could go into effect if
that committee does not vote on them within 14 days after the county executive
signs them. The board could vote on contracts worth more than $300,000 or take
up contracts rejected by the finance committee.

Requiring Milwaukee County
supervisors to get permission from the Milwaukee County executive before contacting
a department head.

Giving the Milwaukee County
executive the authority to oversee all county departments, potentially
including traditionally independent or board-reporting departments such as the
corporation council, labor relations and the Community Business Development
Partners.

Granting the Milwaukee
County executive the sole authority to negotiate labor agreements. The board
could give an up-or-down vote on the contracts.

Allowing the Milwaukee
County executive to sell or lease county property and only permitting the board
to give an up-or-down vote on those contracts.

Authorizing the Milwaukee
County executive to solely administer the child support enforcement program,
work centers, relief programs, fish and game hatcheries and harbor facilities.

Preventing the county from
putting any other referendum question on the ballot when the board-reduction
referendum is up for a vote on April 1, 2014.

Dimitrijevic: ‘A Recipe for Disaster’

Board Chair Dimitrijevic said she was surprised by
the breadth of the governance changes in the bill, saying she’s never heard
members of the public or other county officers seek the majority of these
changes.

She said she was concerned about the diminished role
for the board and the public, since the county board is required to be more
transparent and open than the county executive’s office. She said that change
opened the door to potential abuse of power by the county executive.

“This is a recipe for disaster,” Dimitrijevic said.
“When you take the board out, you might as well take out the public.”

The public hearing on AB 85 will be held at 10 a.m.
on Wednesday, April 10, in Room 412 East of the state Capitol in Madison.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee
on Elections and Urban Affairs, chaired by state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New
Berlin) but as of this writing it has not been scheduled for a public hearing.

Sanfelippo aide Hoisington said the lawmaker
welcomed the opportunity for a public hearing on AB 85 in any location.

Poll

A Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission panel upheld the firing of former Milwaukee Police officer Christopher Manney for violating department rules last April when he encountered Dontre Hamilton before fatally shooting him. Do you agree with the commission’s decision?